10. Homicide deaths, Australia 1994

(ICD9 E-codes 960-978, 990-999)

Table 10.1 Key indicators of homicide deaths

Indicator	Males	Females	Persons
Cases	221	122	343
Percent of all injury deaths	4%	6%	5%
Crude rate/100,000 pop	2.5	1.4	1.9
Age-adjusted rate/100,000 pop	2.5	1.4	1.9
Change in adj. rate since 1993	2%	5%	3%
Average years lost before age 75 yrs	40	42	41

Age and sex distribution

The male 20-29 years homicide rate of 4.4 deaths per 100,000 was almost 3 times the female rate, this was the only age range where there was any substantial difference between males and females. Overall, homicide rates vary less by age than most other injury types.
Death as a result of cutting or stabbing accounted for 35% (n=121) and firearms 22% (n=76) of all homicide deaths. Unarmed fight or brawl 8% (n=28) and other or unspecified causes 33% (n=112) were the other main types of homicide in 1994.
Six children aged 0-4 years died as a result of child battering or maltreatment.
Stabbing rates were highest for people aged between 20-49 years, while firearm rates were highest for the 20-29 year age group.

Although the overall homicide rate has changed little for both males and females since the mid 1980's, cause by cause comparisons show that while this is true for unarmed fights, the rate for stabbing deaths has increased by 66% since 1979 and firearm deaths have decreased by 37% in the same period.
Persons aged 20-39 years have been identified as the most at risk group for death by interpersonal violence. BHOA targets for the year 2000 are aimed at maintaining the rates for these groups at 1992 levels (3.4 and 2.4 deaths per 100,000 for males and females respectively). The 1994 rate of 4.1 homicide deaths per 100,000 for males 20-39 years was 21% above the 1992 rate. The female rate of 1.9 deaths per 100,000, down 21% from 1992, indicates that the target may be achievable for females.
A second BHOA target for the year 2000 is to reduce the death rate of children 0-9 years due to abuse or battering by 25% of the 1992 levels. However, it should be noted that the 1992 rate of 0.6 deaths per 100,000 was unusually low. The rate of 1.2 deaths per 100,000 recorded in 1994, while more than double the 1992 base rate, was more in line with annual rates recorded since 1979. Since yearly fluctuations can be expected it may be some time before any significant trend can be established.

The NT continues to record rates well above the national rate. The majority of these deaths were recorded as Aboriginal (18 of 23), with 50% of these being stabbing deaths.
The rate for the ACT, which has been lower than the national rate in recent years, was not significantly different from the national rate in 1994. However, small numbers recorded for the ACT result in large yearly fluctuations.